Our previous blog was on the “God’s Plan of Salvation for Us”. This blog is basically a continuation of that conversation. This post is to emphasize the importance of faith and works and how they interplay with the plan of salvation
Reading the book of James, chances are you might get a bit confused. After all, James seems to contradict nearly everything Paul says in the book of Romans. He consistently talks about “works” whereas Paul was the “champion of grace.” However, how can the Bible contradict itself on such a major theological topic? For example, Paul writes in Romans 3:28 that “a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.” However, James says in James 2:24 that “a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.”
Since the Bible does not support theological pluralism or relativism one of them has to be wrong. But which one is it?
The reality is neither one of them is wrong. They are both right.
In order to see that James and Paul don’t contradict each other it’s important to understand the historical context that they were writing in and the issues they were addressing in their letters. You see, in Romans Paul was dealing with the dangerous heresy that a person can be saved by keeping the law. Paul repeatedly emphasizes in Romans (as he does in Hebrews, Galatians, Ephesians etc.) that it is impossible to work your way into heaven. The only way is by God’s gift of salvation. A gift that cannot be earned.
James, on the other hand, isn’t dealing with this heresy. James is dealing with a totally different heresy – the idea that so long as you accept doctrinal truth in your head, then you are saved.
Therefore when James uses the word faith he uses it differently than Paul does. Paul uses faith to describe a genuine trust in Jesus. James uses faith to describe an intellectual assent to some abstract theological truth. According to James simply saying “Yes, I believe that’s true” does not save you because it isn’t real faith. Real faith doesn’t just accept truth intellectually; it embraces the truth and applies it to life. Real faith is seen in the person’s life, not just his words. Therefore, good works are the evidence that you have been saved by grace through faith. A lack of good works (which results in the presence of sinful works) may be evidence that your faith is not genuine.
Author: M. Torrez
Comment by: Robert Whiteman :
I have always concluded that Paul and James were perfectly united about faith. Both were addressing those who focused on their own works, while failing to love their neighbor as themselves. Paul addressed those caught up in meaningless ceremonies and beliefs, while James addressed those focused on their own particular formalism and beliefs (paying tithe, keeping the Sabbath, preaching "truth", etc.). Neither audience had true faith with it's resulting works of righteousness, being stuck with mere belief and outward practices they felt were sufficient. It seems James' audience acknowledged salvation by grace through faith, but did not exhibit this saving faith, while Paul's audience believed their belief in God and their formal works were why they were saved, though the sin of "self" still lived in the hearts of both audiences. This is the result of harboring even one known sin. (Remember, the Holy Spirit faithfully convicts "the world" of sin, righteousness and judgment).
Notice how Paul sounds just like James here: "For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?"
AND
"For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."
ALSO
"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Both audiences were lacking the "righteousness of the Law" while following their own idea of formalities based on intellectual beliefs, and not true saving Faith, which transforms the self-centered into a Christ-centered love for others.
Saving faith brings transformation (sanctification) of the heart, which is seen by others in how we live with the same words and acts as Jesus our Example (Ps 40:3). This results from taking His yoke and learning of Him, and surrendering fully...which is how we exercise true faith.
Paul and James agree with each other perfectly, and to me, are speaking of the same genuine Faith that works by love and transforms the heart of sinners by the power of God, according to the Gospel, exhibiting the righteousness of the law (fulfilled by love) in the daily life. (Rom 1:16; 8:3,4; 12:1,2, James 3:17,18; 4:7-10).
Disclaimer: THE PLAIN WORD may quote an outside article(s) or provide a reference to outside materials, which indicate that we stand behind the content of that particular article or reference; but it is not an endorsement by The Plain Word of the author’s opinion, lifestyle or work published elsewhere.
2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” AND 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”